Primers & Sealers

Primers and Sealers at MTN Shop UK

A primer is the coat that does the work the topcoat cannot. It seals porous substrates so the topcoat does not soak in unevenly, blocks stains so they do not bleed through, promotes adhesion on shiny or non-porous surfaces, and provides a uniform white base so the colour reads true. Skipping primer where it is needed is the most common reason for paint failure within 18 months: peeling, blistering, stain bleed-through, patchy coverage and colour wandering. Trade decorators, property managers, landlords and homeowners come here when the wall, woodwork or metalwork has a problem (damp marks, nicotine, knots, mildew, chalky old paint, raw plaster) and a standard undercoat will not solve it.

Zinsser: the specialist stain blocking primer range (37 products)

Zinsser is the US brand UK decorators reach for when a wall has a problem they cannot paint over. The range covers four main reference products that solve different situations:

• Zinsser B-I-N®: the shellac based primer that blocks almost anything (nicotine, water stains, soot, knots in pine, felt tip pen, fire damage residue, food and grease stains). Dries in 45 minutes and accepts any topcoat. The strongest stain blocker in the range.
• Zinsser Cover Stain®: the oil based primer for porous substrates (new plaster, bare wood, chalky old paintwork) plus light to medium stain blocking. Slower drying than B-I-N but cheaper for larger areas.
• Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3®: the water based all purpose primer for everyday use on interior and exterior surfaces where heavy stain blocking is not needed. Low odour, fast drying, easy clean up with water.
• Zinsser Gardz® Sealer Primer: the clear sealer for damaged or chalky surfaces. Used to lock down crumbling plaster, glue size before wallpapering and seal old water based emulsion that is on the verge of failing. The trade choice before papering damaged walls.
• Zinsser Perma-White® Interior Paint Satin 2.5 litre: the mould and mildew resistant finish for bathrooms, kitchens, basements and any high humidity area. Carries a 5 year mould warranty against re-growth.

Rustins primers and undercoats (24 products)

Rustins is the British family business range covering everyday quick dry primers and undercoats for general decorating. The Rustins Quick Dry Primer & Undercoat White 250ml combines primer and undercoat in one coat (suitable for sound, previously painted surfaces and new interior wood), reducing the time on a job by one full coat and one drying cycle. Also available in larger sizes for trade use.

Blackfriar industrial primers (22 products)

Blackfriar is the traditional British industrial paint brand with a specialist range of metal primers, anti-corrosion primers and bituminous coatings for railings, gates, ironwork, structural steel and outdoor applications. Where Hammerite is the consumer direct to rust finish, Blackfriar is closer to the specification end of the market, with red oxide, zinc phosphate and aluminium primers for specific corrosion environments.

PlastiKote aerosol primers (19 products)

PlastiKote is the spray paint specialist and the PlastiKote Twist & Spray Primer 400ml in grey or white is the standard reference for furniture upcycling, craft work, motorcycle and car bodywork touch-up, plastic priming and any small project where a brush is impractical. The fast drying low odour formulation accepts most standard topcoats.

Choosing the right primer or sealer

• Stained wall (nicotine, water marks, soot, felt tip): Zinsser B-I-N® shellac primer.
• Bare plaster, new plaster, chalky old paint: Zinsser Cover Stain® or Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3®.
• Damaged surface before wallpapering or painting: Zinsser Gardz® Sealer Primer.
• Bathroom, kitchen, basement (mould prone areas): Zinsser Perma-White®.
• Everyday interior decorating, previously painted walls: Rustins Quick Dry Primer & Undercoat.
• Metal railings, gates, structural ironwork: Blackfriar red oxide or zinc phosphate primer (or Hammerite Direct to Rust as a one coat alternative).
• Spray application, craft, furniture upcycling: PlastiKote Twist & Spray Primer.

Application notes

For most water based primers (Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3®, Rustins Quick Dry), a synthetic filament brush (Purdy® XL series, Pro-Extra) gives the cleanest finish with the fewest brush marks. For shellac based primer (Zinsser B-I-N®), a cheaper disposable brush is the practical choice, since shellac is notoriously difficult to clean out of bristles afterwards (use methylated spirit, not water). Spray applied primers need a respirator and adequate ventilation, and the spray gun or aerosol should be held 25-30cm from the surface for a smooth even coat.

Build your decorating setup

The Primers & Sealers collection works alongside the rest of our paint and decorating range. Browse our Zinsser, Rustins, Blackfriar and PlastiKote brand pages, our paint brushes from Purdy®, our Hammerite metal finishes, plus the wider paint and decorating category. For fillers and surface preparation before priming, see our Toupret and Polycell ranges.

For trade orders, large area priming on contract decorating jobs or to source a specific Zinsser reference, request a quote and our team will come back with availability.